Iceland and Germany’s Solution for Europe
The Nordic Embassies and the Initiative for ESDW
June 06th, 2018
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Iceland’s sovereignty, the Nordic Embassies celebrated with panel discussions among experts.
On the May 30th, the Nordic Embassies in Berlin held panel discussions among experts as part of the European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW). The event’s main aim was to discuss Icelandic solutions for the European Union, exploring the challenges, risks, and opportunities for cooperation. The three panels included vibrant conversations between German and Icelandic representatives.
The main speakers were Thórdis Kólbrun R. Gylfadóttir, the Icelandic Minister for Tourism, Industry and Innovation, and Thomas Baireß, the State Secretary of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The panelists, all renowned experts on European Union cooperation, provided new perspectives and information about the current European situation, including information about possible solutions for the energy market and the possibility for international cooperation in geothermal research.
The event was extremely insightful and provided a thorough explanation of the latest intelligence findings on the matter. The conversation also focused on the role that national political frameworks plays in the development and implementation of a sophisticated system and infrastructure for renewable energy. A special focus was on the much-needed socio-economic development of the various European regions in order to accomplish the best outcome for the region’s energy transition. The panel discussion was then followed by a networking session with more than 100 participants.
Iceland’s progressive and forward-looking energy community can provide inspiration and partnership for European sustainable development and energy transition. Such events show the ever-so-present willingness among countries in the European Union for open dialogue and cooperation in the current state of affairs. This rings especially true in developing a comprehensive the European strategy to climate change, sustainability and international competitiveness. Such cross-cultural diplomacy gives us hope for the future of the European continent and a path towards greater sustainability.
